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Description: | An undatable (Roman to Post-Medieval, but most-likely Medieval) lead alloy cast spindle whorl with raised decoration, measuring 27.62mm in diameter and standing 14.01mm high. It weighs 41.9g.The spindle whorl is plano convex with a large central aperture, measuring 9.61mm in diameter on one side and 8.08mm diameter on the other. Both faces are decorated with a pattern of raised radiating lines and pellets. One face is divided into four sections (with four lines). Each quarter contains 4, 7, 4, 4 pellets. The other face has many more lines with pellets placed alternately at top and bottom of the lines, some with pellets at both top and bottom.The dating of unstratified spindle whorls is very difficult, although Egan (1998, 256) notes that spindle whorls were more highly decorated during the Roman and Early-Medieval periods compared to the Medieval period. Similar examples to this one have reportedly been found in contexts dated from the Roman through to the Post-Medieval period although the majority are typically dated broadly to the Medieval period c.1066-1500. It has been pointed out that the weight of a spindle whorl is suggestive of the thickness of yarn produced, with lighter spindle whorls (3 - 5 grams) being used for spinning cotton and the heavier ones (30 - 35 grams) for spinning wool (Margeson 1993, 184). This whorl is rather heavier at 41.9g but may well have been used for spinning wool.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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